SaveTheVeniceLibrary

I feel that the City Council did not do enough groundwork on this matter. All I saw was that the Library was being closed due to mold problems. Was any attempt made to find a reasonable alternative solution.

Time for new management!

Please find a alternative location before abruptly closing our library

Dear commissioners: My wife and I have been to the meetings and have been astonished by the outrageous lack of planning, communication and listening from Sarasota County Library and Facilities supervisors. And the public forums hosted AFTER the abrupt decision to “permanently” close the library did little to quell community concerns — because the managers were not actually listening; plus they failed to respond to legitimate questions. Because of they way this has been handled, many Venice residents suspect corruption or a hidden agenda. I think you understand why people are irate — unfortunately, you have failed to listen to good advice from your constituency, instead seem to be following the faulty advice of the managers who got the library into this mess. I do not understand why you are pursuing the wrong decision so hastily. Hanlon’s Razor: Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence. We are regular library users. Neither my wife, who has a compromised immune system, nor I have ever noticed an air quality problem in the library— nor do we know anyone who has. On the other hand, we are both very sensitive to red tide, for example, and are not able to go to our beaches when it is present. We are unimpressed with the State "health officer” who has recommended that the library be closed “sooner rather than later” — with no good reason given. The commissioners should have sought a second opinion before closing the library and squandering taxpayer funds on a needless alternatives. Very poor fiscal management! I note that when the library was abruptly closed, the A/C units were shut off. That is just foolish. If there IS a persistently high humidity, this will surely exacerbate the problem. Books and other paper are moisture sponges and can be quickly ruined by excessive moisture. I hope it is not too late. This issue will not go away. When the facts finally come out, some people are likely to look very bad… Y

First find temporary space ON VENICE ISLAND, then transfer the books, then close the old building.

I totally agree! The meeting was very eye opening!

The Youtube video link to 2/3 public meeting is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLSZMMAUTI&feature=youtu.be Public comments from the audience start at the 20:10 mark. Please listen and distribute.

The old Albertson's is just across the Circus bridge sitting empty. Tons of parking, truck dock, room enough for the library and a large meeting haul.

My husband and I also attended the meeting last night, and we completely underscore what Jim Horsman just wrote today. It is more than crystal clear that the regular, obvious maintenance on the building has been ignored and the place left to decay, almost on purpose by a panel of people with a hidden agenda. We listened to brilliant engineers last night who gave brilliant insights on the fact that mitigating the perennial water problems, i.e. gutters that are broken or which fail to carry water away from the building, a central atrium into which water pours down into the slab, mulch which has been allowed to build up and wick water against the building, and landscape grade which tilts water from the west side, drainage pumps which have not been checked in countless years and may not even be functioning, I could go on! It seems very clear that the first, best step for anyone who wants to save this building would be to address these issues and then give the building some drying time. There is no proven reason the building cannot be reopened as these issues are taken care of! The entire explanation about how dangerous it would be to look behind the wallboard and ceiling tiles is a smoke screen. Give the building drying time (heck, include dehumidifiers with the drainage mitigation; they don't cost a ton!) while we continue to enjoy our precious resource. Mold needs water to sustain and/or grow. As someone last night said five or more times, "It's not rocket science!" There is a hidden agenda here, and it does seem to County is complacent about their real goals and a smug in their power to ram that agenda through. What can be done to take our anger further to be heard? My husband and I are on board! Elaine Lawson Venice, FL

After attending the public meeting on 2/3, it is crystal clear to me that the Venice Library does not need to be closed. Mold levels are not a health hazard. Library and County officials have not done basic maintenance to address water issues. Officials are deceiving the public to ramrod this decision through for some undisclosed reason. Millions of tax dollars to not need to be spent. Keep the library open! NOTE: The entire proceedings of the meeting were videotaped. All of the excellent testimonials should be on the video when it is posted. The link to the video should be made public soon.

Demolishing and moving the library is absurd and huge waste of money. Fix the problem, just fix the problem. Also, commenting on this site is ok, but e-mail the Sarasota County commissioners as well- they're the ones making the decisions!

Please keep Venice library on island. An accessible Venice library with easy access by walking or biking is a big reason for Venice's high livability.

I go to the library often then since I am on the island I get gas, groceries and lunch there. So those places lose my business with this needless closing.

I love Venice Library. Please postpone closing the library until a suitable location is found. I don't understand why it is being closed. I have not heard a good answer.

Good sense says have a new place before u close

Don't close the Library !!

It is unconscionable to not have a library on the island. What kind of oversight has its board of directors been conducting to let this issue get so far without resolution - or even have plan B How about plan C? Anybody?

We use this library 5 times per week. The island must have another library! It is a high-use facility. Where will all the high school and other school children go?

This is very important to me because I have spent time inside the Venice Library once a week for 15 years.

Looking at the air quality reports is frightening. Over the years You have exposed your library patrons, staff, and volunteers to toxic mold, bacteria and an obviously filthy library.